Topic(s): Church, Bible Authority

Bob Prichard

After telling Timothy the qualifications of the bishops [elders] and deacons, Paul gave this reason for writing: “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14-15). He reminded Timothy that the Lord’s church is also the house of God [not a church building, but the “household” of God], and it is the “pillar and ground of the truth.” Does this mean, as some suggest, that there is a church hierarchy, which is to reveal the truth to the world, or is there a better explanation?

The words “pillar . . . of the truth” indicate a firm, strong support for the truth. Just as the pillars of a building give the needed support for the roof and other parts of a building, the church is also to be a strong support of the truth. The words “ground of the truth” give a similar message. The word “ground” is also translated “support” (NASB), “foundation” (NIV), or “buttress” (Barclay). The church is thus to be the firm foundation or support of the truth. When these two ideas are taken together, they stress the certainty and firmness of “the truth.”

“The truth” does not refer just any truth, but to the truth of God’s word. Jesus said, “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). The truth that makes men free is the truth of God’s revealed word. The church, as the body of Christ, is charged with sharing that saving truth with the world. The church has no right or responsibility to invent new truth, but must hold to and firmly support that truth already revealed by God.

We see how important it is for the church to show the world the truth, when we consider that it is through the church that the world learns the gospel, and comes to faith in Christ. In Acts 2, as the New Testament church began, Peter and the other apostles invited the multitudes gathered in Jerusalem to respond to the gospel of Christ. “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:37-38).

Not only is the church, the pillar and ground of the truth charged with sharing the gospel of Christ, it also provides a living witness to the truth of God’s word. Paul told the Corinthian Christians, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). There is a saying, “I would rather see a sermon than hear one.” As the church presents and lives the truth of God’s word before the world, it serves as the “pillar and ground of the truth.” As the world sees Christians living according to God’s revealed word, the world is drawn to Christ.